Four arrested after two-hour stolen car chase

Four people are in custody after a series of hit-and-runs in a stolen car ended with a collision in the city’s west end Tuesday afternoon.

Just after 11 a.m., a stolen Nissan Murano was spotted driving erratically, prompting police to keep an eye on the vehicle with the HAWCS police helicopter.

While seen recklessly driving around the city for the next two hours, the suspect collided with at least four other vehicles — none of which resulted in injuries.

The ordeal came to an end just after 1 p.m. when the stolen vehicle collided with another car on Shaganappi Trail at Bowness Road N.W. after running a red light.

Ending up in a roadside ditch after being hit broadside by another motorist, the stolen Murano’s driver and three occupants jumped out and attempted to flee the scene.

Calgary Police take into custody two men after a collision on Parkdale Blvd and Shaganappi Tr NW about 1 pm in Calgary on Tuesday May 9, 2017. The alleged stolen vehicle crashed into at least two other vehicles. The men were taken into custody in a parking lot near Edworthy Park. The were treated at scene by EMS for a variety of injuries. Jim Wells//PostmediaJim Wells /
Jim Wells/Postmedia

Assisted by the helicopter, all four suspects — two men and two women — were eventually caught by the Calgary police tactical unit and placed under arrest.

One suspect, believed to be the driver of the stolen car, was combative with arresting officers and had to be sedated by on-scene medics.

Placed in physical restraints by police, he was transported to hospital by EMS.

The female driver of the second car sustained minor injuries in the crash.

Charges are pending and the investigation is continuing.

In Calgary, vehicle crimes were up 48 per cent last year compared to the five year average, according to data recently released by CPS.

Calgary’s police chief has said that a “perfect storm” fuelled by drugs and the economic downturn was leading to more volatile criminal behaviour — including vehicle thefts.

In one instance last November, the 21-year-old driver of a stolen vehicle was shot by police after an officer was dragged by the car.

The driver was taken to hospital in serious condition and the officer was also treated for minor injuries.

Earlier that year, the driver of a stolen car was shot and killed by police after allegedly attempting to run officers down in the parkade of an Inglewood condo complex.

“The criminal element we have here will do anything that makes money and having a vehicle facilitates that, so it’s an easy tool for them to use to make money,” Det. David Bailey said late last year.

“And that’s all kinds of crime, and that my involve drugs, may involve guns. It runs the whole spectrum.”

— With files from Meghan Potkins.

Calgary Police take into custody two men after a collision on Parkdale Blvd and Shaganappi Tr NW about 1 pm in Calgary on Tuesday May 9, 2017. The alleged stolen vehicle crashed into at least two other vehicles. The men were taken into custody in a parking lot near Edworthy Park. The were treated at scene by EMS for a variety of injuries. Jim Wells//PostmediaJim Wells /
Jim Wells/Postmedia

Calgary Police take into custody two men after a collision on Parkdale Blvd and Shaganappi Tr NW about 1 pm in Calgary on Tuesday May 9, 2017. The alleged stolen vehicle crashed into at least two other vehicles. The men were taken into custody in a parking lot near Edworthy Park. The were treated at scene by EMS for a variety of injuries. Jim Wells//Postmedia

Calgary Police take into custody two men after a collision on Parkdale Blvd and Shaganappi Tr NW about 1 pm in Calgary on Tuesday May 9, 2017. The alleged stolen vehicle crashed into at least two other vehicles. The men were taken into custody in a parking lot near Edworthy Park. The were treated at scene by EMS for a variety of injuries. Jim Wells//Postmedia

Calgary Police take into custody two men after a collision on Parkdale Blvd and Shaganappi Tr NW about 1 pm in Calgary on Tuesday May 9, 2017. The alleged stolen vehicle crashed into at least two other vehicles. The men were taken into custody in a parking lot near Edworthy Park. The were treated at scene by EMS for a variety of injuries. Jim Wells//Postmedia

Calgary Police take into custody two men after a collision on Parkdale Blvd and Shaganappi Tr NW about 1 pm in Calgary on Tuesday May 9, 2017. The alleged stolen vehicle crashed into at least two other vehicles. The men were taken into custody in a parking lot near Edworthy Park. The were treated at scene by EMS for a variety of injuries. Jim Wells//Postmedia

Calgary Police take into custody two men after a collision on Parkdale Blvd and Shaganappi Tr NW about 1 pm in Calgary on Tuesday May 9, 2017. The alleged stolen vehicle crashed into at least two other vehicles. The men were taken into custody in a parking lot near Edworthy Park. The were treated at scene by EMS for a variety of injuries. Jim Wells//Postmedia

Calgary Police take into custody two men after a collision on Parkdale Blvd and Shaganappi Tr NW about 1 pm in Calgary on Tuesday May 9, 2017. The alleged stolen vehicle crashed into at least two other vehicles. The men were taken into custody in a parking lot near Edworthy Park. The were treated at scene by EMS for a variety of injuries. Jim Wells//Postmedia

Calgary Police take into custody two men after a collision on Parkdale Blvd and Shaganappi Tr NW about 1 pm in Calgary on Tuesday May 9, 2017. The alleged stolen vehicle crashed into at least two other vehicles. The men were taken into custody in a parking lot near Edworthy Park. The were treated at scene by EMS for a variety of injuries. Jim Wells//Postmedia

Calgary Police take into custody two men after a collision on Parkdale Blvd and Shaganappi Tr NW about 1 pm in Calgary on Tuesday May 9, 2017. The alleged stolen vehicle crashed into at least two other vehicles. The men were taken into custody in a parking lot near Edworthy Park. The were treated at scene by EMS for a variety of injuries. Jim Wells//Postmedia

Calgary Police take into custody two men after a collision on Parkdale Blvd and Shaganappi Tr NW about 1 pm in Calgary on Tuesday May 9, 2017. The alleged stolen vehicle crashed into at least two other vehicles. The men were taken into custody in a parking lot near Edworthy Park. The were treated at scene by EMS for a variety of injuries. Jim Wells//Postmedia

Calgary Police take into custody two men after a collision on Parkdale Blvd and Shaganappi Tr NW about 1 pm in Calgary on Tuesday May 9, 2017. The alleged stolen vehicle crashed into at least two other vehicles. The men were taken into custody in a parking lot near Edworthy Park. The were treated at scene by EMS for a variety of injuries. Jim Wells//Postmedia

Calgary Police take into custody two men after a collision on Parkdale Blvd and Shaganappi Tr NW about 1 pm in Calgary on Tuesday May 9, 2017. The alleged stolen vehicle crashed into at least two other vehicles. The men were taken into custody in a parking lot near Edworthy Park. The were treated at scene by EMS for a variety of injuries. Jim Wells//Postmedia

Calgary Police take into custody two men after a collision on Parkdale Blvd and Shaganappi Tr NW about 1 pm in Calgary on Tuesday May 9, 2017. The alleged stolen vehicle crashed into at least two other vehicles. The men were taken into custody in a parking lot near Edworthy Park. The were treated at scene by EMS for a variety of injuries. Jim Wells//Postmedia

Calgary Police take into custody two men after a collision on Parkdale Blvd and Shaganappi Tr NW about 1 pm in Calgary on Tuesday May 9, 2017. The alleged stolen vehicle crashed into at least two other vehicles. The men were taken into custody in a parking lot near Edworthy Park. The were treated at scene by EMS for a variety of injuries. Jim Wells//Postmedia

An alleged stolen vehicle is pictured at 68 St and Memorial Dr NE before it later crashed and Calgary Police took into custody two men after a collision on Parkdale Blvd and Shaganappi Tr NW about 1 pm in Calgary on Tuesday May 9, 2017. The alleged stolen vehicle crashed into at least two other vehicles at that intersection. The men were taken into custody in a parking lot near Edworthy Park. The were treated at scene by EMS for a variety of injuries. Jim Wells//Postmedia

An alleged stolen vehicle is pictured at 68 St and Memorial Dr NE before it later crashed and Calgary Police took into custody two men after a collision on Parkdale Blvd and Shaganappi Tr NW about 1 pm in Calgary on Tuesday May 9, 2017. The alleged stolen vehicle crashed into at least two other vehicles at that intersection. The men were taken into custody in a parking lot near Edworthy Park. The were treated at scene by EMS for a variety of injuries. Jim Wells//Postmedia

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